Colorado Shooting Victim Had NYC Ties

New York City NY

24 March, 2021

3:16 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — Lynn Murray first crossed paths with her husband John Mackenzie in a New York City photography studio. Murray, an accomplished photographer for magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Vogue, quickly "charmed the pants off" Mackenzie, he told the Associated Press. A flirtation blossomed over computer backgammon games before leading into a relationship and two children. But their life together that began in New York ended at a King Soopers supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday. Mackenzie rushed to the store after learning Murray was there, sending text messages and waiting for a response that would never come. "I just fell over in my chair," Mackenzie told the Associated Press. Murray, 62, is one of 10 people shot and killed by a gunman, 21, who opened fire in the store. The others were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; police Officer Eric Talley, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; and Jodi Waters, 65. Murray originally hailed from Ohio before heading to New York City. She was a former photo producer and editor for Condé Nast and Hearst, who had befriended New York's "Soup Nazi" and the late chef Anthony Bourdain, the Washington Post reported. "She's the kindest person I ever knew, hands down. She had an aura about her that was the coolest freakin' thing you'd ever want to know. She was just a cool chick," Mackenzie told the Associated Press. "She had it all together — she really did." Condé Nast representatives didn't return a request for comment. Murray and Mackenzie moved to Colorado to be closer to their daughter, the Washington Post reported. Mackenzie told the Associated Press he spent hours consoling their children before he "lost it" Tuesday morning. "Don't live in fear," he said. "My wife, none of the victims, would ever want you to live in fear. They'd want you to be bolder and live bolder. That's what this place is about."